Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Olathe, KS
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories
Olathe
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Olathe, KS
Pros
70% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Rent averages $539/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $120k less ($317,900 vs $438,100)
Households earn $26,840 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Olathe by $26,840/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$26,840
$108,077 vs $81,237/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
70% lower
196.0 vs 660.6 per 100k
Olathe
Median Home Value
$120k less
$317,900 vs $438,100
Olathe
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Olathe
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Olathe, KS | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,229 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,077 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School for Deaf | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,114 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Olathe's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories. Olathe wins 19 and Santa Maria wins 4. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Olathe to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($317,900 vs $438,100 median home), income ($108,077 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Olathe, KS and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.